Andreas Zack Shipanga (born 26 October 1931 in Ondangwa, Oshana Region) is a former Namibian politician. Imprisoned for two years following a fall-out with SWAPO leadership, Shipanga was arrested and held in detention in Zambia then Tanzania until 1978.
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A founding member of the Ovamboland People's Congress, Ovamboland People's Organization, and SWAPO, Shipanga went into exile in 1963 and became a diplomat. Shipanga was SWAPO's representative in Kinshasa, Zaire and then Cairo, Egypt from 1964-69. While in Egypt, he got married to his wife Esmé. Following his stint as diplomat, He was the SWAPO Secretary for Information and Publicity from 1970 until 1976.[1]
Shipanga fell out with SWAPO leadership in 1976 during the so-called Shipanga rebellion. Shipanga was then imprisoned in Zambia and Tanzania between 1976 and 1978. Following his release, Shipanga returned to Namibia and formed SWAPO Democrats. SWAPO Democrats participated in South African-sponsored "internal settlements", including the Transitional Government of National Unity. Shipanga was the chairman of the Transitional Government of National Unity in 1987 and 1988. Following the 1989 constituent assembly elections when SWAPO Democrats failed to win a seat, Shipanga retired from politics.
| Preceded by Ebenezer van Zijl |
Chairman of the Transitional Government of National Unity of Namibia February-April 1987 |
Succeeded by Dawid Bezuidenhout |
| Preceded by Dirk Mudge |
Chairman of the Transitional Government of National Unity of Namibia October-December 1988 |
Succeeded by Andrew Matjila |